Religious enigma

Christian Century, Oct 16, 2007

RELIGIOUS ENIGMA: Greg Epstein works as a minister at Harvard University, yet he doesn't believe in God, he preaches to atheists and agnostics, and he is at tempting to form the equivalent of a church for nonbelievers. A former lead singer in a rock band, he marries and buries fellow atheists and has even presided over baby-naming ceremonies.

"I have a religious personality, without a scintilla of religious belief," humanist Epstein says. "If it's an oxymoron to believe that people who have ceased to believe in God still need caring and community, then I'm proud to be a walking oxymoron." He is part of a larger trend of nonbelievers organizing themselves on campuses. The number of groups associated with the Secular Student Alliance has increased by more than 50 percent in the past two years (Boston Globe, September 16).